Rowan’s fight made him a champion. The Comm Games fallout presents a new barrier

The path to the top has been continually daunting for Crothers and other athletes with disabilities, made all the murkier by Victoria’s withdrawal from hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

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Even with two gold medals and a silver medal at the Tokyo Paralympic Games, Crothers needs international calibre events to seek re-classification for further showcases – such as the Brisbane 2032 Games.

These athlete classifications, which require reassessment every two years to ensure contenders…